An Old Guy Gets a K-Tuner

Two Step Performance was kind enough to have a "Black Friday" Sale and I was able to buy a K-Tuner for 10% off. Thank you Two Step Performance. I did try to use the "CivicX" code to get an additional 5% off, but it was disallowed. No problem, I understand. I bought it from Two Step Performance so that I could get their much lauded "custom tune". Checked the box, got the email, downloaded the tune and saved it. So far, easy.

Downloading, installing, and registering/marrying the software was involved, but not hard. Just take your time and allow the software plenty of time to look around and do its thing.

I am not looking to see how far reprogramming can push my car. I'm just looking to undo the "nerfs" that make the car feel like it's trying to restrain you. I'm looking for that pre-computer controlled car feel, and I got it.

Because I wanted the most "efficient" (aggressive) ignition and valve timing, I started with the K-Tuner 19.5/23 base map.

First I went to the global settings. I started by moving the "Pedal Curve" to one notch over factory, because I'm really not interested in pushing the car to the limit, just "improve" its feel. Next I disabled "Rev Hang". I'm happy with these setting because engaging the "Sport" button increases the "Pedal Curve" yet again. After a week of driving it I think that it "feels" just right. I do still have to wait for the car's engine to stop spinning after I turn the car off, because the flywheel is too heavy for the engine displacement that we have. My next "un-nerf" will be to install a lighter single mass flywheel.

The next adjustments where the three "Maps". For the first "Map" I chose "factory spool", "factory boost" for normal, and "factory boost" for "Sport" mode. This is my default setting and my "Valet Mode". Also it is my snow and ice mode. Even though I still have the aggressive valve and ignition timing, the spool and boost come on in the factory fashion. It feels to me like it should be safe for slippery weather while still retaining the solid "grip" feel that the timing tune provides.

For the second "Map" I chose "improved spool I", "Factory Boost" for normal and 19.5 psi for "Sport" mode. This is my normal driving mode.

For the third "Map" I chose '"improved spool I". 19.5 psi for normal and 21.5 psi for "Sport" mode. Notice I'm not taking full advantage of the 19.5/23 psi base map.

After a couple of hundred miles I'm really happy with the results, and don't plan to make any changes for a while.

The results weren't really what I expected after all of the wild praise that I see here on the forum. There's just so much a liter and a half can do with a car weighing it down regardless of how many atmospheres you can cram into it. That's not to say that it isn't enough power that I'm not worried about my engine, because my Map 3 definitely concerns me. I need this car to last me at least 200,000 miles and 300,000 would be better. So when the first time I pushed "Map 3" and the boost shot up to 22 psi and hung there through the pull, I realized that they are serious with is tune stuff.

With the posts I'm reading about head gaskets blowing/leaking, I decided that 21.5 was all the boost I wanted to apply to an engine that I want to last for a decade, and then only sparingly.

I'm sure that if I went for the full 23 psi or the 26 or 27 psi that the TSP tune provides, that I would really be impressed at the performance. But not at a cost I'm willing to pay.

The bottom line is that I'm impressed at the change of feel that the K-Tuner provides. It gives the impression of a firm grip that this car should have had from the factory, and improves the "scoot" that is available when it is pushed.

Nothing can replace displacement, but for change of character, it is exactly what we need.

I enjoyed reading this and am glad you're enjoying the system!

Awesome!

For the basemaps... the extra boost was nice and all but the rev hang disable... the quick spool enable and the partial throttle boost whatever-it-was... really woke up the car. Without the last one... boost kind of seemed programed to build linearly with throttle input... like the electronic wastegate was tied directly to throttle input. With that set to whatever the options were (I think it was 2 or 3 steps of aggressiveness) it make the car seem to really be snappier. Without it... I swear they try to emulate an NA in some ways and force a more linear power delivery than what a small-turbo'ed car naturally has.

It was probably a combination of items. The general throttle aggressiveness to me just make it feel like you didn't need to give full throttle input for WOT... or at least not as much, so that you lost some of the already tiny amount of time it takes to physically floor the pedal. I spent a few months on the basemaps and really, really enjoyed it. The TSP Stage 1 24.5 map has a noticeable amount more power after ~4000 RPMS or so and is rewarding to push the car hard, but I was also concerned with the huge torque spike... as I'd modded my basemap boost targets under 4000 RPMs down from 23# to 21#. Still... the 24.5# map is the only one I drive on... the car starts with it on by default and it's been fine for coming on a year and a half now and well over 10k miles. For all the [deserved] fanfare TSP Stage 1 has for it's up-top power... Ktuner's basemaps pretty much cover all the drivability improvements you can get.

charleswrivers said:

For all the [deserved] fanfare TSP Stage 1 has for it's up-top power... Ktuner's basemaps pretty much cover all the drivability improvements you can get.

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It's just different strokes for different folks.

With all the available user adjustments the base KTuner tunes have, you can go from mild to wild, whereas Derek has a specific feel in mind for his Stage 1 tune. It makes for an interesting comparison.

Going from the Hondata CARB Flashpro to a KTuner V2 was a real eye opener for me. With all the myriad of tweaks I was like a kid in a candy shop. And like most of us, I wound up going aggressive with most of my tweaks... early spool, aggressive throttle and ramp.... etcetera. It gave the car a hyped up almost lag free feel off the line and that power was intoxicating. The downside was that since throttle response and spool and ramp were all maxed out, that low end joy turned to slight disappointment when I did my high speed moves. Everything was so "front loaded" that it took the top end feel away a bit.

With Derek's tune, my guess is he's using a bit less throttle tweak and maybe no early spool. At first, I was disappointed with the low end response compared to my aggressive KTuner setup. But driving it more it all made sense. At lighter throttle, power is smooth and solid. But put your foot into it and she really scoots and keeps on scooting til close to redline. The throttle pedal is very linear throughout, where the Ktuner setup felt like you were almost at full throttle pressing it a little more than maybe 60%.

You can't go wrong with the base maps and all that adjustability. On balance though, Derek's tune just feels a bit more refined.

gtman said:

It's just different strokes for different folks.

With all the available user adjustments the base KTuner tunes have, you can go from mild to wild, whereas Derek has a specific feel in mind for his Stage 1 tune. It makes for an interesting comparison.

Going from the Hondata CARB Flashpro to a KTuner V2 was a real eye opener for me. With all the myriad of tweaks I was like a kid in a candy shop. And like most of us, I wound up going aggressive with most of my tweaks... early spool, aggressive throttle and ramp.... etcetera. It gave the car a hyped up almost lag free feel off the line and that power was intoxicating. The downside was that since throttle response and spool and ramp were all maxed out, that low end joy turned to slight disappointment when I did my high speed moves. Everything was so "front loaded" that it took the top end feel away a bit.

With Derek's tune, my guess is he's using a bit less throttle tweak and maybe no early spool. At first, I was disappointed with the low end response compared to my aggressive KTuner setup. But driving it more it all made sense. At lighter throttle, power is smooth and solid. But put your foot into it and she really scoots and keeps on scooting til close to redline. The throttle pedal is very linear throughout, where the Ktuner setup felt like your were almost at full throttle pressing it a little more than maybe 60%.

You can't go wrong with the base maps and all that adjustability. On balance though, Derek's tune just feels a bit more refined.

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Agreed.... I think the less edgy aspect makes it more rewarding (and necessary) to drive the car hard. It brought a little more linearity back. I only have flashed back to stock once since TSP for a some AC warranty work in April and I was shocked how linear the car is stock, for being a turbo car. I remember making it downright edgy on the basemap.

And so how old is old?

Civics4Ever said:

And so how old is old?

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I'm 64.

With the boost limited to 19.5 lbs of boost it took me five days until my clutch started to slip. No I don't launch. I'm just an old V8 driver that keeps wanting to "push" the car in sixth gear at highway speeds. By using the 19.5/23 basemap, even though I reduced the boost, the valve and cam timing makes really nice torque at 2500 rpm. So nice that my stock clutch couldn't hold it.

So now I'm limiting myself to to map 1 (factory boost) until I can get a new clutch this spring, and being careful with fifth and sixth gear. (Drats!)

Ah, still young enough to have fun!